Rory McIlroy broke his silent treatment to the media during the majors on Saturday, but he remains chippy.
Asked if the reason he had skipped talking to the media after rounds all four days at the PGA Championship and the first two days at the 2025 U.S. Open had to do with frustration with this week’s venue, Oakmont Country Club, McIlroy said, “No, not really. It’s more a frustration with you guys.”
His answer to follow-up questions added a bit more context but remained vague as to who specifically he was referring to as “you guys” and what exactly had ticked him off.
“I’ve been totally available for the last few years, and I’m not saying — maybe not you guys, but maybe more just the whole thing,” he said.
When asked directly if it stemmed from a report at the PGA Championship of his driver failing a random and routine driver test before the second major in May and being deemed non-conforming, McIlroy confirmed “that was part of it,” but noted that it isn’t uncommon for him to skip media.
“Like at Augusta I skipped you guys on Thursday,” he said. “I’ve done it before; I’m just doing it a little more often.”
McIlroy has traditionally been one of the most accessible and transparent players, which has made his recent behavior all the more baffling since he achieved the career Grand Slam at the Masters in April.
He should still be over the moon; instead, McIlroy has looked as if he is suffering from a constant tooth ache without Novocain.
“You don’t really know how it’s going to affect you,” he said of winning the Masters and completing his longtime dream. “I wouldn’t say a life-altering occasion, but at least something that I’ve dreamt about for a long time. Yeah, I alluded to the fact that, yeah, I have felt a little flat on the golf course afterwards.”
Flat enough that he did share that he debated whether he wanted to make the 36-hole cut on Friday and play two more rounds.
“It’s funny, like it’s much easier being on the cut line when you don’t really care if you’re here for the weekend or not,” he said with a chuckle. “I was sort of thinking, do I really want two more days here or not. So it makes it easier to play better when you’re in that mindset.”
McIlroy shot 4-over 74 in the third round for a 54-hole total of 10-over 220.
As McIlroy has noted on multiple occasions this week, PGA Tour pros aren’t required to speak to the media after a round as is mandatory in other sports. It’s been suggested that given the increased level of purses that it may be time to update player requirements.
Earlier this year, Justin Thomas sent a memo to players asking for them to be more willing to do pre-round interviews and the like. Asked if he was daring the Tour to change its policies, McIlroy said, “I’m not daring them to do anything. I hope they don’t change it because it would, you know – this is, it’s a nice luxury to have. But I’m just pointing out the fact that we have the ability to do it.”
Perhaps the most telling comment from McIlroy during his post-round interview was his response to a question of if he earned the right to skip talking to the media because he has made himself so available over the past several years, including as an unofficial spokesperson of sorts for the Tour in its fight with LIV.
“I feel like I’ve earned the right to do whatever I want to do, yeah,” he said.
So, what is McIlroy looking forward to on Sunday in his final round? “Hopefully a round in under four and a half hours and get out of here,” McIlroy said.
That was the end of the interview and he walked off to the locker room, lips pursed, in silence once more.
